Page 51 of Her Devoted HERO

“We’ve been on two dates. We’ve talked on the phone a few times. I haven’t even told my mom about this. I’m sure as hell not going to tell some guy I barely know about some creepy phone calls.”

At her words, she watched his face go through a magical transformation.

“Poppy, we’ve been communicating for almost two and a half months.”

“Two months,” she immediately countered.

“Okay two months. But you have to admit I’m someone more than you barely know.”

“Fine, a few e-mails, a couple of phone calls and two dates.”

“And you’ve had me investigated.”

She felt like stomping her foot. “Don’t make this some sort of game.”

“God, Kenna, the last thing I want to do is make this a game. Someone is already fucking with your head. I’m trying to support you. I want to be someone you can lean on.”

“I don’t believe in that,” she said loudly. Really loudly.

Fuck, had those words just come out of her mouth?

God, she was mortified.

Dex looked over his shoulder to the backyard. A couple of heads had turned their way. He picked up her purse and pulled her further into the house to his office and shut the door. Dex opened his arms.

“What are you doing?”

“I want to give you a hug, Poppy. You need one.”

Kissing him was one thing, but taking a hug from him when she so desperately needed one? No way. Nuh Uh. Not going there.

“Kenna, come here. I promise I won’t let you down.” She looked into sincere brown eyes. Soulful. Kind. Compassionate. Kenna hesitated. Just this once she wanted a man like her father that she could trust and lean on. Please don’t let her be wrong.

She stepped into his arms, and he enveloped her. His hand cupped the back of her head, and he kissed her hair.

“Talk to me, Baby.”

“It’s stupid. I haven’t really been all that scared until you pointed out Jean was murdered. I’ve just put it down to some creep, ya know?” Her voice was muffled against his chest, and his arms clutched her tighter.

“I’m sure it is just some creep, and the two things aren’t related at all,” he whispered.

She pushed away from his chest to look him in the eye. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better, aren’t you?”

“Yep,” he nodded.

“Don’t do that Dex. I’m a big girl, I put on big girl panties, I can handle the truth.”

“What kind of panties? I’m partial to thongs.”

She laughed. How could she be laughing? She hit his chest. Hard. He caught her fist and kissed her knuckles.

“Big girl panties mean granny panties,” she explained.

“I’m not partial to those.” His lips feathered over the back of her hand, then he uncurled her fist, and pressed a kiss to her palm. She shuddered. “I think I’m going to make a stop at Victoria’s Secret for you,” he said.

“Goddammit, stay on track. We were discussing the fact that you were lying to me to make me feel better.” That was twice in twenty minutes she felt like stomping her foot. What, was she five?

“Kenna, I’m not going to make any kind of guess. What’s the point? Let’s wait and see what the experts say, okay?”